Horse racing is not usually the first thing that springs to mind when you think ‘family day out’. While plenty of racecourses are defined by chaos and drinking, plenty more are genuinely fun for the entire family. Parents can have a flutter with a William Hill promo code while the kids take in the atmosphere of one of Britain’s great pastimes and enjoy entertainment tailored for them.
Virtually every racecourse in Britain offers free admission to under 18s when accompanied by a parent or guardian, making a day at the races one of the most affordable outings around. Sussex and the wider south coast happen to be particularly well stocked with family-friendly tracks, several of them within easy reach of Brighton itself.
The best-suited courses go further than free entry for the kids. Proper play areas, on-site entertainment, generous family ticket bundles, and easy transport links all sweeten the deal. Here are some of the best choices for a family day out from Brighton.
Brighton Racecourse—the home advantage
You can’t get closer than the track on your own doorstep. Brighton Racecourse offers free entry for under 18s at the vast majority of fixtures, with children issued a ticket on the day rather than needing to book in advance, all a mile or so from the city centre.
The Family Fun Day in late August is the standout date, typically bringing inflatable assault courses, bumper cars, a golf simulator, and other free entertainment alongside the racing, but the kid-friendly entertainment is popular at every race day. Picnics are welcome trackside, and the seafront setting with panoramic views over the city makes it an easy add-on to any Brighton day out.
Plumpton – easiest to reach without a car
Plumpton sits in the heart of the South Downs, a short walk from Plumpton railway station, which has regular services from Brighton and Lewes. That makes it one of the simplest family days out in the area for anyone without a car, or for driving families; it’s free parking and only half an hour from Brighton’s city centre.
Family Racedays brings a fun fair, petting farm, magician, inflatable slide, and a dedicated toddlers’ play park, alongside jump racing. Under 18s go free with a paying adult, and early bird adult tickets start from around £16, keeping the day affordable for larger groups.
Goodwood – for the big occasion
Goodwood, perched on the Downs above Chichester and under an hour from Brighton, is one of the most prestigious and scenic racecourses in the country, great for horse and car racing. Children 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult, and dedicated family fixtures run through June and around the August Bank Holiday.
It’s the pick for families wanting to build a bigger day out around the racing, with fairground rides, face painting, and a petting zoo joining the card on family dates, plus fireworks on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Just note this is a step up in scale and atmosphere from the smaller Sussex tracks, so it suits families happy with a busier day.
Before heading to any fixture, it’s worth double-checking free-entry terms and family ticket offers directly with the racecourse, as exclusions can apply on the busiest dates.
